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Randy Fine

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Randy Fine
Member of the Florida House of Representatives
from the 33rd district
Incumbent
Assumed office
November 3, 2022
Preceded byBrett Hage
Representative for Florida's 53rd House district
In office
November 8, 2016 – November 3, 2022
Preceded byJohn Tobia
Succeeded byJeff Holcomb
Personal details
Born
Randall Adam Fine

(1974-04-20) April 20, 1974 (age 50)[1]
Tucson, Arizona, U.S.
Political partyRepublican
Residence(s)Melbourne Beach, Florida, U.S.[1]
Alma materHarvard University (BA, MBA)

Randy Fine (born April 20, 1974) is an American Republican politician, activist, and former gambling industry executive who was first elected to the Florida House of Representatives in 2016.[1] His district covers southern Brevard County.

In October 2023, Fine switched his endorsement in the 2024 Republican Party presidential primaries from Ron DeSantis to Donald Trump over the 2023 Israel–Hamas war.[2][3]

Early life and career

Fine was born in a Jewish family[4] in Tucson, Arizona.[1] Fine's father, H. Alan Fine, a graduate of MIT, was professor of engineering at University of Kentucky.[5][6] Fine was raised in Lexington, Kentucky, graduating from Henry Clay High School in 1992.[7] He spent his 11th grade year in high school as a page in the US House of Representatives.[8] During the summers of 1991 and 1992, he was an assistant for Robert Dornan.[9][10]

Fine is a graduate of Harvard University.[11][12]

Before entering politics, Fine worked as an executive for casino gambling companies such as Harrah's Entertainment and American Casino & Entertainment Properties.[13] For nearly ten years, he operated a Nevada-based consulting business for the casino industry, called The Fine Point Group.[11][13] In 2009, he was the chief executive of the Greektown Casino in Detroit.[13]

Florida House of Representatives

Elections

In 2015, Fine explored a US Senate bid.[14]

Fine has won four elections in Florida's 53rd and 33rd House of Representatives districts. In 2016, Fine and David Kearns (Democrat) competed for the seat being vacated by John Tobia, who vacated the spot due to term limits.[15] In 2018 and 2020 Fine was the incumbent, and he was challenged by Democrat Phil Moore in both elections.[16][17] Following redistricting, Fine ran in the 33rd district in 2022, defeating Democrat Anthony Yantz.[18]

Tenure

In the state legislature, Fine has been an advocate for protecting the environment of the Indian River Lagoon from sewage spills, and for opposing what he sees as wasteful, lower-priority spending.[19] Fine has introduced a bill in the state legislature to provide up to $50 million per year in matching funds to upgrade sewage treatment facilities in the area of the marsh. The legislation also increases the fines for illegal sewage discharges.[20] Despite his crusade against sewage spills, in 2019 he voted for HB 829 [21] which made it illegal for local communities to ban the spreading of biosolids (dried sewage) on farmlands that drain into the St. John's River and The Indian River Lagoon.[22][23] The practice of spreading dried human feces as fertilizer on farms around the St. John's River has been linked to toxic algae blooms affecting Melbourne's drinking water supply.[24][25]

The editorial board of local newspaper Florida Today has criticized Fine's personal style. Their joint editorial observed that "Fine is obviously a hard working lawmaker who has used his watchdog skills to do good" but said that "Fine should defend what he believes in, but not by launching tirades against others as crusades on behalf of his constituents. He can look good without trying to make others look bad with personal attacks."[26]

Israel and Palestine

In 2018, Fine demanded that venues in Miami and Tampa cancel scheduled concerts with the New Zealand singer Lorde because she had previously cancelled a concert in Israel after being urged to do so by activists from the BDS movement. According to Fine, letting Lorde play would violate an anti-BDS law that the state enacted in 2016.[27] The concerts went on as scheduled.

In April 2019, Fine called Paul Halpern, a Jewish constituent of his, a "Judenrat" for supporting an event that discussed the Israeli-Palestinian situation. Halpern stated, "That's the worst thing anyone can say to me. I'm someone who’s been a victim of anti-Semitism much of my life, and there’s no worse name you can call a Jewish person than 'Judenrat.' It tells me about the character of the person who said it, especially since he doesn’t know me."[4]

In May 2021, amid the ongoing crisis in Israel and Palestine, Fine made several derogatory posts and comments on his Facebook and Twitter pages regarding Palestinians, including a celebration of the Israeli army's bombing of the Gaza Strip.[28]

Opposition to LGBT community

Fine has repeatedly made unsubstantiated allegations that gay and lesbian people are "grooming" minors[29][non-primary source needed][30][31] and has publicly spoken in favor of "erasing"[32][33][34] the LGBT community. He supported the so-called "Don't Say Gay" bill that banned classroom instruction about sex education topics in schools.[31]

In April 2021, Fine was one of 77 Republicans in the House to vote yes on bill CS/HB 1475 which bars transgender girls and women from playing on girls' sports teams at public schools.[35][36]

Fine has proposed a bill to ban drag performances where children might be in attendance. Opponents of the bill note would ban his own wife's "sultry performances"[37] that she says are to benefit a children's charity.[38][39] NBC News has reported that video of previous years' galas confirmed that toddlers were in attendance[40] and Business Insider has reported that in previous years children performed alongside adults at the galas.[41]

Reedy Creek Improvement District

In 2022, Fine sponsored a bill that would dissolve any independent special district in Florida established prior to November 5, 1968, including the Reedy Creek Improvement District. The bill passed both the Florida House of Representatives and the Florida State Senate, and was signed into law by Governor Ron DeSantis on April 22, 2022.[42] Many political commentators said that the potential dissolution was in retaliation for Disney announcing its opposition to the Parental Rights in Education Act, dubbed the "Don't Say Gay Bill" by its critics, that passed several weeks prior. In an interview, Fine said that research into the RCID and other special districts started "When Disney kicked the hornet's nest several weeks ago."[43] When the potential impact on taxes in the surrounding counties of Orange and Osceola was being discussed, Fine claimed, without providing evidence, that the taxpayers would save money, and the tax revenue would instead go to local governments. Neither county is part of Fine's district.[44]

Controversy

There are multiple cases of Fine using "threats to pull or withhold state funding...to strike back at political rivals and retaliate over perceived slights."[45] These include the Brevard Zoo (2023), a Palm Bay Magnet High School firefighter academy (2022), and the West Melbourne Special Olympics (2021).[46]

Personal life

Fine married his first wife, Anne Price, in 1996.[6] They met while working for Students for an Energy Efficient Environment Inc.[47]

In 2007, with his second wife Wendy, he purchased a 4,000 square foot home in Melbourne Beach, to which they added 4,500 square feet at a cost of $1,000,000.[48] In 2023, his wife Wendy was accused of sexually suggestive dancing in the presence of children, according to a report by NBC News. The accusation occurred at a Spring Forward for Autism non-profit gala in Melbourne, Florida.[49]

References

  1. ^ a b c d "Florida House of Representatives - Randy Fine - 2022 - 2024 ( Speaker Renner )". Myfloridahouse.gov. Archived from the original on March 10, 2023. Retrieved March 10, 2023.
  2. ^ Fineout, Gary (October 24, 2023). "Florida Jewish Republican tears into DeSantis, endorses Trump". POLITICO. Retrieved October 24, 2023.
  3. ^ "Rep. Fine, Florida Legislature's only Jewish Republican, knocks DeSantis, endorses Trump". Tampa Bay Times. Retrieved October 24, 2023.
  4. ^ a b Lemongello, Steven (April 16, 2019). "Jewish constituent targeted by state Rep. Randy Fine's 'Judenrat' comment calls for apology". Orlando Sentinel. Archived from the original on April 21, 2019. Retrieved April 21, 2019.
  5. ^ "MIT Scholar". Hollywood Sun-Tattler. March 5, 1971. Archived from the original on July 23, 2023. Retrieved August 13, 2023 – via Newspapers.com.
  6. ^ a b "Fine-Price Wedding". The Daily Oklahoman. June 30, 1996. Archived from the original on July 23, 2023. Retrieved August 13, 2023 – via Newspapers.com.
  7. ^ "A Salute to Scholars Our No. 1's". Lexington Herald-Leader. June 17, 1992. p. Community 8 (48). Archived from the original on July 23, 2023. Retrieved August 13, 2023 – via Newspapers.com.
  8. ^ "Lexington student chosen as House page". Lexington Herald-Leader. June 28, 1990. Archived from the original on July 23, 2023. Retrieved August 13, 2023 – via Newspapers.com.
  9. ^ VanHoose, Linda (July 24, 1991). "Henry Clay's House page is a model at Citizen Bee". Lexington Herald-Leader. Archived from the original on July 23, 2023. Retrieved August 13, 2023 – via Newspapers.com.
  10. ^ VanHoose, Linda (August 5, 1992). "Student adds award to political resume". Lexington Herald-Leader. Archived from the original on July 23, 2023. Retrieved August 13, 2023 – via Newspapers.com.
  11. ^ a b "Managing Director: Randall A. Fine". The Fine Point Group. Archived from the original on January 20, 2019. Retrieved January 19, 2019. He holds both his undergraduate degree magna cum laude, and his MBA degree, with high honors, from Harvard University.
  12. ^ Frank, Stephen E. (October 14, 1994). "Scandal Before Service: Harvard's student leaders are a laughing stock". Harvard Crimson. Archived from the original on February 14, 2019. Retrieved January 19, 2019.
  13. ^ a b c Dave Berman (January 16, 2015). "Gaming official from Brevard to seek House seat". Florida Today. Archived from the original on July 27, 2021. Retrieved November 27, 2018.
  14. ^ Caputo, Marc (May 19, 2015). "Randy Fine exploring U.S. Sen. bid". Politico. Archived from the original on March 10, 2023. Retrieved August 13, 2023.
  15. ^ Bonanno, Chris. "State House of Representatives District 53 race". Florida Today. Archived from the original on July 24, 2021. Retrieved July 9, 2021.
  16. ^ "Election results for Brevard County and Florida races". Florida Today. Archived from the original on July 31, 2021. Retrieved July 9, 2021.
  17. ^ "Florida House of Representatives District 53". Ballotpedia. Archived from the original on July 10, 2021. Retrieved July 9, 2021.
  18. ^ "Florida House of Representatives District 33". Ballotpedia. Archived from the original on March 10, 2023. Retrieved March 10, 2023.
  19. ^ Smith, Nancy (March 17, 2018). "Rep. Randy Fine, Champion for the Indian River Lagoon". Sunshine State News. Archived from the original on January 20, 2019. Retrieved January 19, 2019.
  20. ^ "Rep. Randy Fine Proposes HB 141 During 2019 Legislative Session to Clean Up Indian River Lagoon". Space Coast Daily. December 29, 2018. Archived from the original on January 19, 2019. Retrieved January 19, 2019.
  21. ^ "House Bill 829 (2019) - The Florida Senate". flsenate.gov. Archived from the original on January 30, 2020. Retrieved January 30, 2020.
  22. ^ "Brevard County leaders have failed to address our poop problem | Opinion". Florida Today. Archived from the original on January 30, 2020. Retrieved January 30, 2020.
  23. ^ Winikoff, Mike (December 20, 2018). "County seeks to extend biosolids ban". Hometown News Treasure Coast. Archived from the original on January 30, 2020. Retrieved January 30, 2020.
  24. ^ "Melbourne officials defend city water as residents speak up at Rep. Fine meeting". Florida Today. Archived from the original on January 30, 2020. Retrieved January 30, 2020.
  25. ^ "Sewage sludge central? Officials fear waste from other communities threatens water supplies". Florida Today. Archived from the original on January 30, 2020. Retrieved January 30, 2020.
  26. ^ The Editorial Board (May 24, 2018). "Rep. Randy Fine's bullying of local leaders is bad for Brevard County: Our view". Florida Today. Melbourne, Florida. Archived from the original on January 20, 2019. Retrieved January 19, 2019.
  27. ^ "Rep. Fine wants Lorde's concerts in Miami, Tampa canceled". The Leaf Chronicle. February 8, 2018. Archived from the original on August 13, 2023. Retrieved November 10, 2020.
  28. ^ "CAIR calls for ethics investigation into Florida Rep. Randy Fine following bigoted remarks against Palestinians". Orlando Weekly. May 26, 2021. Archived from the original on May 25, 2022. Retrieved May 26, 2021.
  29. ^ @VoteRandyFine (April 15, 2023). "The perverts who wish to groom our children will stop at nothing to achieve their ends. Today, I got to read about one named @mattlavietes Tomorrow, all of you will as well" (Tweet). Retrieved April 15, 2023 – via Twitter.
  30. ^ "Florida Rep. Randy Fine calls school leader 'whore,' threatens Special Olympics | Commentary". Orlando Sentinel. April 26, 2022. Archived from the original on March 31, 2023. Retrieved April 15, 2023.
  31. ^ a b "State Rep. Randy Fine says he's being considered for FAU president job. DeSantis' office calls him 'a good candidate.'". Sun Sentinel. March 28, 2023. Archived from the original on May 30, 2023. Retrieved April 15, 2023.
  32. ^ Thakker, Prem (November 1, 2022). "Florida Republican Defends Anti-Drag Bill Even If It Means "Erasing a Community"". The New Republic. ISSN 0028-6583. Retrieved April 15, 2023.
  33. ^ Riley, John (April 14, 2023). "Florida Republican is Fine with "Erasing" LGBTQ Community". Metro Weekly. Archived from the original on April 15, 2023. Retrieved April 15, 2023.
  34. ^ "Florida Politician Supports Eradication of LGBTQ+ Community". The Advocate. Archived from the original on April 14, 2023. Retrieved April 15, 2023.
  35. ^ "CS/HB 1475: Sex-specific Student Athletic Teams or Sports". Florida House of Representatives. June 1, 2021. Archived from the original on June 5, 2021. Retrieved June 1, 2021.
  36. ^ "Florida governor bans transgender women and girls from school sports". NBC News. Associated Press. June 1, 2021. Archived from the original on June 1, 2021. Retrieved June 1, 2021.
  37. ^ "Gala". Spring Forward for Autism. Archived from the original on April 15, 2023. Retrieved April 15, 2023.
  38. ^ "Wife of Florida drag ban sponsor to host 'sultry' performance to benefit kids' charity". NBC News. April 13, 2023. Archived from the original on April 14, 2023. Retrieved April 15, 2023.
  39. ^ "Wife of Florida Anti-Drag Lawmaker to Host 'Sultry' Performance Event for Nonprofit". The Advocate. Archived from the original on April 15, 2023. Retrieved April 15, 2023.
  40. ^ "Wife of Florida drag ban sponsor to host 'sultry' performance to benefit kids' charity". NBC News. April 13, 2023. Archived from the original on April 14, 2023. Retrieved April 15, 2023.
  41. ^ Snodgrass, Erin. "A Florida Republican who sponsored an anti-drag bill 'can't answer' whether his wife's charity event featuring 'sultry performers' would be criminalized under his own law". Business Insider. Archived from the original on April 15, 2023. Retrieved April 15, 2023.
  42. ^ "DeSantis signs bill revoking Disney's special self-governing status in Florida". NBC News. April 22, 2022. Archived from the original on April 25, 2022. Retrieved April 26, 2022.
  43. ^ "Disney 'kicked the hornet's nest,' competitors do not get same special privileges, says state Rep. Fine". CNBC. April 21, 2022. Archived from the original on April 26, 2022. Retrieved April 26, 2022.
  44. ^ Swisher, Skyler; Gillespie, Ryan (April 22, 2022). "Disney World's Reedy Creek: What happens after the special district is abolished?". Orlando Sentinel. Archived from the original on April 22, 2022. Retrieved April 26, 2022.
  45. ^ Rogers, Eric; Berman, Dave (March 16, 2023). "Randy Fine pulls $2 million request as Brevard Zoo considers ban on campaign events". Florida Today. Archived from the original on March 16, 2023. Retrieved March 17, 2023.
  46. ^ Rogers, Eric (April 23, 2022). "Florida Rep. Randy Fine threatened Special Olympics funding over school board member feud, texts show". Florida Today. Archived from the original on March 17, 2023. Retrieved March 17, 2023.
  47. ^ "Fine-Price". Lexington Herald-Leader. April 28, 1996.
  48. ^ Straub, Anne (January 9, 2011). "Militano Construction Remodels Home to Create a "Fine" Estate". Florida Today. Archived from the original on July 23, 2023. Retrieved August 13, 2023 – via Newspapers.com.
  49. ^ "Wife of Florida drag ban sponsor to host 'sultry' performance to benefit kids' charity". NBC News. April 13, 2023. Archived from the original on April 18, 2023. Retrieved April 18, 2023.
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